Manawatu Jets 2026 Sal’s NBL Preview

The Property Brokers Manawatū Jets 2026 Season Preview

Headline:

Jets reload to take the next step after falling just short of the postseason in a high-powered 2025 effort

Quick Facts:

Head Coach: Tony Webster (2nd season)

Home Venue: Fly Palmy Arena

2025 Finish: 9-11 (8th)

Key Returnee: Dontae Russo-Nance

Key Signing: Byron Mullens

Player to Watch: Corey Webster

Snapshot:

Manawatū head into the 2026 Sal’s NBL season with a roster that has been reshaped around key returnees after a 2025 campaign that delivered plenty of offence but came agonizingly short of the wins required to push into the postseason conversation. Many of last season’s contributors have moved on, but the Jets can build around two major returning backcourt pieces in Corey Webster and Dontae Russo-Nance (with Webster set to return from injury that cost him half of last season) while a wave of new arrivals gives the roster a very different feel. With the talent on hand the upside is obvious, but so is the challenge. The Jets have to replace a large bulk of their scoring, defensive activity and rebounding by bringing the new mix of talent together quickly.

Property Brokers Manawatū Jets 2026 Roster as of printing (New Additions in Bold):

Christian McDaniel

Dontae Russo-Nance

Byron Mullens

Nathan Wilson

Isaac Makoi

Corey Webster

Kaden Sand

Chout Mangup

Hamza Zahran

Ihaia Abbott

Kazlo Evans

William Heather

Reuben Leota

Thomas Simms

2025 Jets statistical snapshot

Manawatū brings back a large chunk of last season’s offense with Corey Webster and Dontae Russo-Nance the clear headline returners from the 2025 squad, but will need to dig a bit deeper to replace the rebounding and rim protection that were lost. Webster was one of the league’s premier offensive guards in his 10 appearances, while Russo-Nance produced across the board over 19 games and now looks set to shoulder even more responsibility. Team-wise, the Jets were one of the league’s better offensive sides, finishing top four in scoring, assists and steals, but defensive issues and a big rebounding deficit ultimately limited their ceiling.

Category | 2025 Jets Leader | Top Returning Jet | 2025 Team / League Rank
Scoring | Corey Webster, 23.7 ppg | Corey Webster, 23.7 ppg | 92.3 ppg, 4th
Rebounding | Kenny Goins, 7.3 rpg | Dontae Russo-Nance, 5.0 rpg | 40.4 rpg, 8th
Assists | Corey Webster, 6.9 apg | Corey Webster, 6.9 apg | 17.6 apg, 4th
Steals | Dontae Russo-Nance, 2.5 spg | Dontae Russo-Nance, 2.5 spg | 9.8 spg, 2nd
Blocks | Kenny Goins, 1.4 bpg | Dontae Russo-Nance, 0.5 bpg | 3.9 bpg, 5th
Field Goal % | Isaac Miller-Jose, 60% | Corey Webster, 43% | 44% , T-8th
3-Point % | Corey Webster, 40% | Corey Webster, 40% | 33%, T-5th
Free Throw % | Miles Gibson, 85% | Corey Webster, 68% | 69%, T-8th

2025 Stats League Rankings

Team Stat | 2025 Numbers | League Rank
Scoring offense | 92.30 ppg | 4th
Scoring defense | 96.35 ppg allowed | 10th
Scoring margin | -4.05 | 8th
Rebounding margin | -6.55 | 11th
Field goal percentage | 44% | T-8th
3-point percentage | 33% | T-5th
Free throw percentage | 69% | T-8th
Assists per game | 17.60 | 4th
Steals per game | 9.80 | 2nd
Blocks per game | 3.90 | 5th
Offensive rebounds per game | 10.15 | 6th
Defensive rebounds per game | 26.45 | 5th
Turnover margin | +4.05 | 1st

Projected Identity:

This looks like a Jets side that should again have plenty of pace, ball-handling and perimeter creation, particularly with Webster and Russo-Nance back to lead the attack. The big question is whether the new-look roster can find better balance than a year ago. Last season’s team could put points on the board and generate pressure, but it also gave up way too much at the other end and was consistently beaten badly on the glass. With veteran NBA big Byron Mullens now in the mix and a number of fresh faces around the core, Manawatū thinks this revamped version can keep the offensive threat level high while becoming more stable defensively as they move into a more physical brand of basketball in the painted area.

Key Offseason Moves:

Departed:

This is where the scale of the reset really shows. Miles Gibson, Quinton Rose, Kenny Goins and Isaac Miller-Jose all played major roles in 2025, while other contributors also move out of the picture. That means Manawatū is not just replacing numbers, but also rebounding, defensive playmaking and a large share of the team’s nightly shot volume. Webster and Russo-Nance remain, but the supporting cast around them is significantly different.

Returning:

The return of Corey Webster and Dontae Russo-Nance gives the Jets an enormous head start in the backcourt. Webster averaged 23.7 points and 6.9 assists per game in 2025 and remained one of the most dangerous offensive guards in the competition, while Russo-Nance added 18.3 points, 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game across 19 appearances. Between them, they bring proven scoring, creation and leadership into a roster that otherwise has a lot of new pieces to integrate.

Arrived:

Have we mentioned Byron Mullens? The big (and we mean big) headlines the incoming group and gives the Jets a genuine frontcourt presence with the skill, experience and size needed to dominate the league. Some fans may have forgotten about the athleticism of Nate Wilson following his extended stay in the American collegiate system, but he looks to be a signing coup with his mix of length and speed that can play on the perimeter or in the post when needed. Kaden Sand and an expected import wing will add fresh perimeter options in the import category and will find plenty of space to operate, while Christitan McDaniel, Chout Mangup, Hamza Zahran, Ihaia Abbott, Kazlo Evans and William Heather give the roster more depth and youth. Reuben Leota and Thomas Simms provide extra local depth as the club reshapes the wider squad.

X-Factors:

Corey Webster: Everything changes when Webster is on the floor. When healthy, he remains one of the competition’s elite scorers and shot-makers, but coming back from an achilles injury is a difficult task for any player, much less for one who is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. If he again delivers at a high level, the Jets will have a go-to option every night with his ability to control tempo, create from range and organise the offence making him a central figure in this roster and in opposition scouting reports.

Nate Wilson: He hasn’t appeared in the NBL since the 2020 showdown but his athletic prowess and versatility as a defender should be remembered. The Jets surprisingly swooped in to grab the Mt Albert Grammar product, and the Manawatū faithful will soon understand why as he is sure to provide aerial acrobatics and multi-positional defense throughout the season.

Kazlo Evans Jr: Following back-to-back selections in the Rapid League All-Star Five, Evans Jr was looking for greater opportunity than was available with the defending champion Saints. He may have found that with the Jets, especially in the early season when Webster will still be working back from injury. He’ll have the opportunity to come into the early season and take the reins as the floor general, and if he can make that leap the Jets may have just sourced another high level local guard for the rotation.

Biggest Question: Can the Jets find balance?

Manawatū could score with the best of them last season, but that was never the main issue. The Jets averaged 92.3 points per game and ranked second in the league in steals, but they also allowed 96.4 points per game and finished last in rebounding margin. That left them needing to win shootouts far too often, even with Webster and Russo-Nance in the mix. The shape of the 2026 roster suggests the club has made the moves to address that, but whether the new group can actually find that balance between offence, defence and glass work will likely define the year.

What Success Looks Like:

Success for the Jets in 2026 looks like keeping their offensive punch while becoming a tougher, more balanced team over the course of the season. With Webster and Russo-Nance still in place, the baseline should be competitiveness. If the new additions fit as expected, Webster gets back up to a reasonable facsimile of himself, the interior effort improves and the defensive end takes a step forward, Manawatū will find themselves doing what couldn’t be done a year ago by taking that final step back into the postseason.

Final Word:

The Jets have kept their core, and the duo have enough star power to remain dangerous, but this roster is not running it back by any means. This is nearly a complete rebuild with the new-look group built around two major returners and a lot of new faces that still have a few questions to answer. If the pieces click quickly and the balance improves, Manawatū has the tools to be one of the more intriguing teams in the league.